If in London and you got a place at your preferred school via the waiting list, how far down were you and how long did you have to wait for your place?

[CloudsOverHead]

We're 40+ on the waiting list for our preferred school (250 intake) but before any second round offers were made. I was told by the admissions people that there was a lot of movement to come (in London so always lots moving in/out/going private) but don't know whether to hold hopes high or assume it's never going to happen.

In previous years, I know people who were in the 60s on the list (same school) who got their place in early April but others who only moved from 50ish to 30ish before giving up in August.

Really interested to hear other experiences please!

@Turquoiseturtle3 We’ve moved backwards too 😔

I was also hoping people would have made their choices after transition day but suspect it’s just not a priority for them. I’m hoping they’ve all been busy with year 6 leavers stuff and they’ll get to it soon.

I could cry, I’ve just checked my email and I’ve moved back again to 6th! I can’t believe all of these late applications or people changing their minds.

@Turquoiseturtle3 guess it’s people moving in to area now it’s summer holidays. Have to hope it’ll work the other way too - they’ll be families moving out but that will take longer to filter through and open up places.

We have moved back a place as well!! 🤯

Anyone got any updates? Good luck to those waiting - it’s torturous

Not London but on waiting list for a very oversubscribed school and having started at 37 on the waiting list back in March, we were 9 in the last week of the summer term. Hoping for a miracle at the start of September but also trying not to get carried away with hope. A difficult balance!

@Turquoiseturtle3 I’m trying to resist calling again for a couple more weeks but the temptation is always there!

We are unable to call - so frustrating. We have to email and then wait up to 2 weeks for a response. Sometimes it’s within a few days but other times it’s over a week. How often is everyone asking? I wish ours was online like some councils

Give the Admissions staff (and your worry) a break. Most are actually taking a bit of leave until GCSE result days, when they'll be dealing with the 6th formers repeating years, incoming enrolments and dealing with the no shows/summer holiday leavers. Calling when the school is basically closed won't make you feel any better about it.

Having done this last year, I really don't think there's much point calling now. There may still be movement but it could be quite dramatic. So while you're sad that you're only 15 or whatever, the 14 people in front of you don't want the place anymore.

They'll get in touch with you if a place appears and knowing where you are on the list won't change that. Try and put it out of your mind.

DC was second on the list. We were about 100m from the cut off. He didn’t get a place. This was in SW2 a few years ago.

@CloudsOverHead @Turquoiseturtle3 We still haven’t moved a place. I’m not holding out much hope now 😞 x

Fingers crossed for you. My friend was 13 on the list last year during the summer holidays and they were offered the day before term started. You never know.

Yes, I know what you mean. I think it’s fair enough to enquire if it will make you feel better or give you some peace of mind. We have to make decision on uniforms soon as well. Don’t let others make you feel bad about wanting to know x

I'll definitely call again near the end of the month. It’s the council not school so the office is open the whole time. I know plenty of people who called weekly over previous summers.

I decided to just buy all the uniform for the school we’ve got already but I’ve not cut off labels yet. Thought was more likely to get a place if the fates don’t believe we’re holding out 😉😆

Sorry if it came across badly when I was saying not to check over the summer. I was thinking it more in a “amazing things can happen and you’ll suddenly leap 20 places as people turn a spot down” way. I’m a raging hypocrite anyway as I obsessively checked our online system, the convenience was good but also addictive.

it was about this time that we got offered a place last year, I’d bought uniform too for similar reasons as you @CloudsOverHead, returning it was a joy.

@AthenaPoster that's exactly why I wasn't planning to call for a few more weeks. Will be too disheartening if there hasn't been movement! Or we go backwards again 😩

Wish we had an online system! Would check it daily for sure 😆

@AthenaPoster your story gives me hope. I have also bought the uniform for the offered school but am keeping it in packaging with labels on until the night before term starts. Hoping I'll be in a position to return it before then!

This would be the dream!!! I really wish I had online access but probably for the best that I don’t 😂
I can’t even call which is annoying. The council say they can take 2 weeks to respond so it’s pot luck when the magic email pings in 🙄

It's August and DC is #9 on the WL for our top choice school, a SW London grammar. WL is moving at a historic slow pace. How much truth is there to the idea that a bunch of kids simply won't show up in September?? In agonies of hope here..

It always happens. I suppose there's always a first time where nobody has moved house, nobody has gone private, nobody has decided to EHE, nobody has changed their mind and gone with another school they were on the waiting list for, but why would it be happening for the first time this year above all others? Even during lockdown, people were still failing to arrive on the first day when it was far less likely they would be moving house than in normal years or were still holding their state places when they knew their child would be going to private because they'd already paid the fees.

Don't forget that admissions staff are also on the only two weeks of the school year where they are likely able to take annual leave uninterrupted (many do data/exams so will be dealing with that soon, so this is pretty much the only time they have to take a break). Slow is normal for July/August, completely expected early August.

If you have a child on a waiting list you are waiting for a child who has a place to turn down the place. This will then give the child at the top of the waiting list a place at the school. BUT, if there were any children who got a place from Appeal, this will have taken the school over their number. This means that no one from the waiting list will get a place until the numbers are back down to one below the published admission number. Sometimes, children don't turn up in September. It depends on the area really. More likely in transient areas.
There is no way of knowing how likely anyone is to get a place.

Thank you, @NeverDropYourMooncup . I didn't think about that holiday aspect. Places are allocated by the borough, not the school, but there must be some knock-on.

Fingers crossed for you!! Tiffin boys has gone to around 26 places for the last few years, by the end of august. This year they are already on 36 so hopefully there will be some more movement for you!!

I heard back from the council again on Friday. We have moved back again to 10th place. A few weeks ago we were 3rd. Apparently new applications, the implication being people have moved into the area. But not out. Sigh.